Justus "Jay" Calvin Langhorne

Justus “Jay” Calvin Langhorne, transitioned peacefully from this earth surrounded by his daughters on April 11th, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jay was born in 1925 at Harlem Hospital in New York City. A Harlemite to his core, he spent his youth enjoying playing with his friends in Central Park and listening to the jazz greats of the era. He enlisted in the Army and served in World War II from 1942-1944, where he spent time in Germany and France. After the war, he returned to New York City and pursued his lifelong passion for the arts by studying at the esteemed School of Visual Arts and New York University, as well as singing opera and studying acting. He found his life calling to portrait artistry and initially honed his craft on the streets of the West Village. Never one to be content with the traditional mundanities of life, he took his talents on the road and embarked on a 60 year career, leading a remarkable life every step of the way. His travels initially took him to Puerto Rico and on a traveling art circuit around the United States. In 1974, he arrived in New Orleans where he settled down, erected his easel in the French Quarter and established “Portraits by Jay”, which earned him an invitation to participate in the city’s 1984 World’s Fair. On Jackson Square, Jay was an easily recognizable and popular figure with his signature large straw hat. It is also where he met his ex-wife and life partner, Marie Langhorne, with whom he shared a passion for travel across Europe, a curiosity for culture and the arts and a love of good times. Jay and Marie raised two daughters, Magali and Ophelia, whom Jay often referred to as “my hearts”. During Hurricane Katrina, Jay and his family relocated to Tuscaloosa, Alabama where Jay continued to do portraits during game days out in “…God’s blue sky” on the quad at the University of Alabama. His art resides in all four corners of the country and throughout Europe. After 11 years in Alabama, Jay returned to New Orleans to live next to his daughter, Ophelia. Jay continued to be the life of the party during his final years in New Orleans, frequently attending brunch and dinners with his daughters and friends, visiting his beloved Fairgrounds on opening day, visiting old friends on Jackson Square¬, admiring beautiful women, smoking his cigars, enjoying ice cream and spreading his cheer and wit among all those who knew him. Jay is remembered fondly as an individual who lived a full life on his own terms, defined by laughter, a “tell it like it is” persona and a larger than life presence. To know him was to love him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rosetta and Jack Langhorne, brothers Maurice and William and sister Judetta. He is survived by his daughters, his ex-wife, his sister Nalini, his brother Milton and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. The family thanks all of their friends for the outpouring of love, support and personal stories of Jay’s impact on their lives. They also thank the resident and hospice care teams at St. Margaret’s Nursing. Jay was a lifelong truth student and member of Unity Church. Jay’s remarkable life and presence will be honored in a Celebration of Life memorial event at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you visit a Jackson Square artist or make a donation in Jay’s name to an organization that promotes access to and support for the arts (Roots of Music, Musicians’ Village, New Orleans Jazz Market, Ashe Cultural Arts Center).Arrangements by DW Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave.;

Justus "Jay" Calvin Langhorne

April 11, 2020